Loch Glencoul

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 58.2301, -4.9500

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Also within

Sutherland County Assynt - Coigach Scenic Area 34. Reay - Cassley Wild Land Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Moine Favourable — 2015-08-26
F2 Upland birch woodland Unfavourable Declining — 2009-12-17

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Upland birch wood

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Cambrian · Rock Type: Gneiss

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Loch Glencoul Loch Glencoul Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies in the west of Sutherland about 4km south-east of Kylestrome, at the head of Loch Glencoul. This site is nationally important for Moine geology and birch woodland. Moine geology This site contains nationally important rocks from the Moine Thrust Belt. The Moine Thrust is a major feature of the geology of the northern Highlands which runs from the north coast of Sutherland to Skye. To the west of the Moine Thrust is the Foreland. This is an area of ancient Lewisian Gneiss (1700 million years old), overlain by undeformed younger Torridonian (100-800 million years old) and Cambrian (500 million years old) sedimentary rocks. Around 430 million years ago the Moine Thrust carried the rocks of the Moine Supergroup westwards so that they are now found on top of the younger sedimentary rocks of the Foreland. Below the Moine Thrust, a number of other major thrusts, including the Glencoul Thrust and the Sole Thrust, carried slices of the Foreland rocks westward during the same mountain-building episode, to form a stack of thrusts known as the ‘Moine Thrust Belt’. The western end of Loch Glencoul SSSI contains exposures of Lewisian Gneiss and the overlying Torridonian and Cambrian sediments of the Foreland, which were not affected by movements in the Moine Thrust Belt. These Foreland rocks are separated from the Moine Thrust Belt by the Sole Thrust. Eastwards of the Sole Thrust, is a well-exposed zone of imbrication. Here, rock slices stacked up by movements along small-scale thrust faults developed in relatively soft Cambrian rocks between the Sole Thrust and the overlying Glencoul Thrust. The Glencoul Thrust is magnificently exposed on the southern shores of Loch Glencoul. Here, Lewisian Gneisses of the Glencoul Thrust Sheet have been carried westwards by movement on the Glencoul Thrust, so that they are now on top of the much younger dolomites of the Cambrian ‘Durness Group’. In the extreme east of the site, the Stack of Glencoul provides a famous and comprehensive section through mylonitised Moine psammites. Psammites are rocks that formed from muddy sediments that have been heated, compressed and sheared by thrusting to form a fine-grained, platy rock. The Moine psammites were carried westwards by movement on the Moine Thrust and now overlie the Lewisian and Cambrian rocks of the Glencoul Thrust Sheet. Much of the most important evidence for understanding the Moine Thrust Belt is found within this site. Notably, the small-scale thrust faults between the Glencoul Thrust and the Sole Thrust are interpreted as having formed successively, with new thrusts forming below old ones. This is crucial to understanding the sequence in which the thrust faults in the Moine Thrust Belt formed. This classic area also enables Lewisian rocks from the Foreland, unaffected by movements in the Moine Thrust Belt, to be compared directly with Lewisian rocks involved in the Moine Thrust Belt. Upland birch woodland There is scattered birch woodland on the south and north sides of Loch Glencoul. Of particular note are the two areas of woodland which are situated on the crags. The main tree species are downy birch Betula pubescens, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, aspen Populus tremula and hazel Corylus avellana with some wych elm Ulmus glabra, holly Ilex aquifolium and goat willow Salix caprea. Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and dog rose Rosa canina are well established throughout the woodland. Because of this unusually diverse understory, this is the best example of this type of woodland in north-west Sutherland. Due to the varied geology, the ground flora is well developed and contains a wide range of species such as black spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, brittle bladder-fern Cystopteris fragilis and hard shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum, hart's tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium, wood false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum, hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa, red fescue Festuca rubra and bearded couch Elymus caninus. At the east end of the northern area of woodland, several springs create permanently wet, nutrient-rich habitats which encourage the growth of the mosses Palustriella commutatum and Philonotis calcarea.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
black spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum LC fern aspleniaceae
hart's-tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium LC fern aspleniaceae
brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis CR fern woodsiaceae
hard shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum LC fern dryopteridaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
hairy brome Bromopsis ramosa LC grass poaceae
bearded couch Elymus caninus LC grass poaceae
red fescue Festuca rubra LC grass poaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
dog-rose Rosa canina LC herb rosaceae
curled hook moss Palustriella commutatum Not listed in GB list moss hypnales
thick nerved apple moss Philonotis calcarea LC moss bryales
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
aspen Populus tremula LC tree salicaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
goat willow Salix caprea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

W4 — Raised bog, Upland birch wood, Wet woodland

Betula pubescens-Molinia caerulea woodland

Hedera helix, Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Salix pentandra, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus sylvestris, Sorbus aucuparia, Alnus glutinosa, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Crataegus monogyna, Carex laevigata, Carex nigra, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Straminergon stramineum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Angelica sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Cirsium palustre, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Menyanthes trifoliata, Chamerion angustifolium, Epilobium palustre, Oxalis acetosella, Rumex acetosa, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Galium saxatile, Galium uliginosum, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina

W11 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Oxalis acetosella woodland

Acer campestre, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Juniperus communis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cytisus scoparius, Crataegus monogyna, Rubus saxatilis, Carex pilulifera, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Mnium hornum, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium undulatum, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Polytrichum longisetum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila spinulosa, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Campanula rotundifolia, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Stellaria holostea, Pyrola minor, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Lathyrus montanus, Geranium robertianum, Hypericum pulchrum, Ajuga reptans, Teucrium scorodonia, Convallaria majalis, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Primula vulgaris, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina

W17 — Altantic hazel wood, Atlantic oak wood, Caledonian forest, Upland birch wood, Wood pasture

Quercus petraea-Betula pubescens-Dicranum majus woodland

Hedera helix, Salix caprea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus hybrid, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Juniperus communis, Rhododendron ponticum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Crataegus monogyna, Carex pilulifera, Luzula multiflora, Luzula pilosa, Luzula sylvatica, Andreaea rupestris, Mnium hornum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranodontium denudatum, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Dicranum scottianum, Leucobryum glaucum, Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Racomitrium fasciculare, Racomitrium heterostichum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Eurhynchium striatum, Heterocladium heteropterum, Hylocomiastrum umbratum, Hylocomium armoricum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Isothecium myosuroides, Kindbergia praelonga, Loeskeobryum brevirostre, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sematophyllum demissum, Sematophyllum micans, Thuidium delicatulum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum formosum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Tetraphis pellucida, Adelanthus decipiens, Anastrepta orcadensis, Barbilophozia attenuata, Barbilophozia floerkei, Bazzania tricrenata, Bazzania trilobata, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Frullania tamarisci, Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia, Harpanthus scutatus, Jamesoniella autumnalis, Jungermannia gracillima, Lepidozia pearsonii, Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Lophozia ventricosa, Marsupella emarginata, Microlejeunea ulicina, Mylia taylorii, Nowellia curvifolia, Plagiochila asplenioides, Plagiochila atlantica, Plagiochila killarniensis, Plagiochila porelloides, Plagiochila punctata, Plagiochila spinulosa, Ptilidium ciliare, Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania gracilis, Scapania nemorea, Scapania umbrosa, Tritomaria exsectiformis, Tritomaria quinquedentata, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia digitata, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia polydactyla, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia squamules, Cladonia subcervicornis, Parmelia saxatilis, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sphaerophorus globosus, Solidago virgaurea, Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis, Cornus suecica, Hypericum pulchrum, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Goodyera repens, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Lysimachia nemorum, Trientalis europaea, Anemone nemorosa, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Agrostis vinealis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Molinia caerulea, Poa nemoralis, Poa pratensis, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris aemula, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, Hymenophyllum wilsonii, Polypodium vulgare, Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium filix-femina